Potter&#39;s lawn.



H. MUELLER.

POTTE'R'S LAWN.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2. 1911.

Patented Dec. 3

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INVENTOR BY I ATTORNEY m: nun: ruins m, rnmum IAsnnmwu. a c.

considerable friction, and consequently at a.

HILMAR MUELLER, 0F IRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

ro'rrnn s' LAWN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

Application filed. January 2, 1917. Serial No. 140,052.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HILMAR MUELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Potters Lawns, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to apparatus or machines that are used for separating foreign substances or impurities, such as particles of wood, iron, sand and small stones, from clay employed by potters for the manufacture of earthenware. Machines of this character are known as lawns, and the kinds that are at present in use are either of the revolving, or the shaking class.

Machines of the former, or revolving, class can only be used where the clay body consistsof a thin mixture and does not contain much of what is known as ball clay. W'here much ball clay is used in the body a lawn of the second, or shaking, class is required. Heretofore, so far as I am aware, shaking lawns have comprised screen boxes which are supported by springs, links, or the like, or are mounted to slide, and are reciprocated by cranks, cams, or eccentrics. Machines of this character are in'efiicient, and are short lived, because of the more or less complicated suspension structures and operating mechanisms that have had tobe associated with them and which arerequired to operate in the presence of sand or grit, with the result that they are rapidly worn out, and operate with great loss of power.

Moreover it has been found that some clay bodies require a longer stroke in the separating process than others, and the prevailing constructions of shaking lawns provide for no adjustment whereby this end may be attained. 7

It is the objects of my invention to construct a lawn of the shaking class which is highly efficient; extremely easyof operation;

is very durable; is comparatively simple of construction; and wherein the length of stroke may be varied to suit the require ments of'the diflerent qualities of clay to be treated.

A further action which is highly desirable in the treatment of clay of the above character is to impart to'the clay slip (as-the thin To these ends my inventlonconsists in the production of a lawn involving a movement novel to apparatus or machines of this character, and comprising the elements set forth in the claims annexed hereto; and anembodiment of which is illustrated. in the" drawing accompanying and forming a part hereof, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view and Fig. 2 a side elevation of a lawn constructed in accordance with my invention; and Fig. 3 is a detail, in perspective of certain of the elements of the operating mechanism.

Describing the present embodiment of my invention by the use of reference characters,

1 represents a rocker-arm which is journaled intermediate its ends upon a vertical shaft 2 whose lower end is shown as secured within a socket in the base 3 by means of a set screw 4. Ball bearingsj5 and 5*..are

employed to reduce the friction between the rocker arm and its support, and a cap 6 closes the upper. end of the opening of'the rocker arm occupied by the shaft 2, the cap being shown as provided with an" oil cup 7 through which the working parts beneath may be lubricated. I do not consider this construction of the rocker arm support particularlyessential, and the dotted line showing thereof is deemed sufficient; but I do consider it important that the ro ker arm r be pivotally supported to swing in substantially a horizontal plane, for reasons which will be'given hereinafter.

To the forward end of the rocker arm there is secured an open sided frame -,10=

within which is supported a box llhaving the upper portion of its side remote from the frame 10 open. The box is provided with a bottom 12 which is inclined downward from the side walls toward the center where it is equipped with a discharge spout 13 which reposes above the funnel shaped, transversely elongated receiver 14. An upper and a lower screen 15 and 16, respectively, each of which is stretched upon as,

vails in shaking lawns," the lower screen, is

preferably of a finer mesh than the upper.

5 Clay slip is adapted to be delivered, as by .aspout 18, onto the end of the upper screen nearest the pivotal support of the rocker arm, andyin the operatiton, of; the machine,

to gradually flow toward the open or dislo charge side of the box, the slip passing through-the screens 115-and 16 and falling :upon thebottom 12 bywhich it is collected and-discharged through the spout jl3-into the receiver ale," while .any foreign matter 15 =Which=iwasin theslip will pass on acrossthe screens and out .of the discharge or open-side -ofthe box.

"20-=de'notes a"counterweightattached tothe end of the rocker arm 1. oppositegthe screen 7 from friction. andvinsu res ,ease =of operation and durabilityto the parts.

" Tor-the rear-and to'one side of thezbase 3 there is supported: from the'basearcasing 25 that is open at: the top but for the presence of a cover 26 which may be attachedto .the :casin by'any-suitable means. ,.A shaft 27 is supported vertically*within a boss .28 -of the bot-tomplate 29';of. the:baseand'within a hollowaib'oss 30 formed-2111 the :bottomof:.the -.casi1rg .25. Immediately; aboveithe-iboss 28, a ibeveli. gear 31::is :securedto the: shaft 27,

a=nd= aii'disk 32sisasecured to the upper endvof -the1- sha;ft= 'Within'i-the: casing; 25. .Thisadisk hasia' ra'dial slot-:351thatis T: shapedyin-cross section 1 and-- -within whichais3' adapted" to :;be

-' -clamped at anyradiusffromthe center:ofrthe disk; a crank :pin s36 to one-rend ofxwhich'; is

4 5 pivotedaaconnecting arm 37wwhichrhasi its wopposite send i'journaled, {by :means :of a

' knucklqpin; 238-,- tothe-ikneeiof a: toggle joint -37icomprising links -40 .and atlgthe former having itszou-ter. end journaledcupon a: stationary pin 42 ,iVVshlCh' isscrewed into. a: pad

that: drives from the bottom of the-casing ir25; and"the latter having its ;outer-end'"pivoted upon a pin 43 'thatzdepends-frqmrthe rear end' o-fr-the rocker arm 1,--the"cover26';of the -eoasing'fi25isbeingaslotted ammo @permiteof rocker arm and ssu'ch' connectioncbetweengthe he alinkfil.

aMeshing-rwith the-bevel gear:31,-.is azpinion "Wlfif16 the otherie@loose'thereon. .aThis pulley equipment:zprovidesi-fora are operation 46-ofilikecharacter-thatis secured'tolfthe end :51, onei-ofiwhich:isseeureditortheshaft 1 of the machine by means of a belt, although .,.it isobvious thatothefishaft may be driven by a motor or other suitable means. 7 With the foregoing construction in mind, it will be readily seen that when the shaft 47 is .driven, the disk 32 will .berotated throughthe pinion 4C6, gear 31, and shaft 27.

."As 13116.:dlSkf32; is rotated, the links 40 and 41 of the toggle joint will be oscillated throughtheir connectiomby means-of the connecting arm37, with the crank=pin of the disk. The outer-end of the link 40 being fixed against any but anoscillatory'movernent, it is clear that the-outer end of'the link' ll must move to-and fro-in a transversedirection, whereby the :rockergarmvwillgbe vibrated to shakethe vw'screen :box :11. ..:'llheiextent off-this :mofvement may be readily varied..:by:an:adjust 'mentaof'the crankpin: 36 w'ithinzthe radial slot: 35 -:of-.:the :disk432. i'lihe; elongation ;of :the receiver'.:14 .allows @for .the transverse wmovement ;of,. t.he spout, 13. The screenbox, r swinging in, an: arc -uponrthecenter; defined by the-- shaft; -2,{ imparts; a {shorter movement .to theainner OIJI'IBQBlYlIIg. ends-0f thescreens 15 a and 16 than is given,;.their :outer sends. Consequently, the desired result hereinbefore ;.setforth isattained.

. It will be observed that. the working parts :andthe operating mechanisms of the machineare not only removed from the vicinity 50f the materialthat is'beinguhandled, but zare actually protected fromgdust by theirfinclosing casings. i 7 Having 3 thus ;1 described any invention, -iwhat. I. c1aim--:is-: 7

11. lntappara l iQf the, character set'forth, thecombination of a vertical shaft,=a rocker arm: 'journaled; for oscillationrin a horizontal planethereon, a screen'car-riedbythearm on Y one; side ofzesaifld gshaft -and having adischarge; side remote; from theshaft, a:-.weight vcarriedeby the :arm; on: t-heother side .of the -shaft,, and means;fonoscillating the arm.

' rocker 'pivotally supported. for oscillation in a horizontal p1ane,1a ;s creen carried ..2. jI-n apparatusofthe character set forth, the -:combination;;of a.-.-piv0ta1ly supported by the arm" oniqoney side of its. pivotal; sup

-port-= and having wk-discharge. side remote fromqsaid support,-a;weight carriedby the armrzomthezotheraside of its ,pivotal-;s11pp0rt, nd.--means5f0 os i lating. the -,arm. 1

3. In apparatus of the characten-setg forth,

stile-r combination :of a:rocker pivotally wplane a scream carrieclby, the arm. on; acne '1 supportedfor'; :o'scilla-tion in 7. a. 1 horizontal gside of it pivotalasupportjand havinga r discharge zside q remo-te {from said ;.sufpport, a weight; adjustably-s'canried iby. .thearm, on

it-he other; side r;of,;its ivotalsup.port, and 7 'means for oscillating the arm.

-45. Inapparatus ofi the 1character, set theicombination of a: rocker armapivotally -.-.s'up. erted .5;zfnraessilla ien....in.-a .h01;i ant forth, t

plane, a screen carried by the rocker arm on one side of its pivotal support and having a discharge side remote from said support, a toggle joint having the outer end of one of its links connected to the rocker arm and the outer end of its other link pivotally supported in fixed relation to the pivoted support of the rocker arm, and mechanism having connection with the knee of the toggle j o1nt for swinging the same.

5. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a base, a rocker arm pivotally supported thereon for oscillation in a horizontal plane, a screen carried by the rocker arm on one side of its pivoted support and having a discharge side remote from said support, a toggle joint having the outer end of one of its links connected to the rocker arm and the outer end of its other link pivotally sup ported in fixed relation to the base, and variable throw mechanism having connection with the knee of the toggle joint for swinging the same.

6. In apparatus of the character set forth,

the combination of a base, a rocker arm of the crank with the knee of the toggle joint, and means for rotating the crank.

7. 1n apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a base, a rocker arm pivotally supported thereon for oscillation in a horizontal plane, a screen box carried by the rocker arm on one side of its pivotal support and having a discharge side remote from said support, a toggle joint having the outer end of one of its links pivotally connected to the end of the rocker arm opposite the screen box and the outer end of its other link pivotally supported in fixed relation to the base, a shaft supported by the base, a disk carried by said shaft, a crank pin carried by the disk, a link connecting the crank pin with the knee of the toggle joint, and mechanism upon the base for driving the aforesaid shaft.

8. In an apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a pivotally supported rocker arm, adjustable means for oscillating said arm in a horizontal plane through a variable angle, a screen box carried by said arm on one side of its pivotal support, and means for depositing material to be treated upon the side of the screen box having an open discharge side remote from the pivotal support.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HILMAR MUELLER.

Witnesses:

HERBERT P. MARGERUM, FRANCIS S. FARL Y.

Copies of this, patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, .D. 0.

nearest the pivotal support, the screen box 5 

